Lamina cribrosa surface morphology associated with optic disc damage

The lamina cribrosa exhibits changes at the same time as damage to the glaucomatous optic disc is occurring, according to a retrospective study.

Gülgün Tezel, MD, and colleagues at the Kentucky Lions Eye Center studied serial optic disc photographs of 39 eyes of 39 patients with glaucoma who had a vertical cup-to-disc ratio of 0.6 or greater. All eyes had had disc photos obtained at least 3 years apart showing a clear visualization of the lamina cribrosa surface.

During a mean period of almost 4 years, individual pore size exhibited a significant decrease between baseline and follow-up measurements of each eye, the authors said. However, the clinical appearance of the lamina cribrosa surface may continue to change even when the neural rim appears clinically stable, they said.

During the study period the total pore area to disc area ratio did not change, and the change in pore shape in some eyes was statistically insignificant. No significant associations between the changes of the lamina cribrosa parameters and neural tissue damage were seen. The rate and magnitude of change did not significantly differ among eyes with progressive neural rim damage and those staying stable, the authors said.

The study is published in British Journal of Ophthalmology.